If you have ever seen a bright green drink on the counter of a local coffee shop, then you have probably seen matcha-the current star in the tea world, praised for its health benefits and ability to provide coffee without stress .

Finely ground green tea leaves can be traced back centuries in countries such as Japan and China, and are traditionally mixed with hot water to make matcha. In recent years, this kind of tea has become popular on this side of the Pacific-now, you can find matcha-flavored products (ice cream, donuts, cakes, lattes, and even cocktails!) in coffee shops in almost every aspect.

Some people may think that the grassy flavor of matcha itself is a bit too earthy-but it has become a dessert, and with the common vanilla and cream base flavors, it has become an interesting bicultural offspring between European desserts and Asian flavors.

Here are some of my favorite places to buy matcha desserts near Seattle, listed in order of green tea flavor from lightest to strongest.

Monday to Friday 11 am to 5 pm, Saturday to Sunday 11 am to 6 pm; 600 Fifth Avenue, Seattle; Uwajima House; dochicompany.com. (There is also a location at 17348 Southcenter Parkway in Tukwila-in Lin's seafood market.)

If you have seen funny bubble doughnuts on the Instagram profile of Seattle Food Influencers, you may have seen Dochi doughnuts. Dochi stands for "Mochi Doughnuts", they are Japan's transformation of traditional deep-fried American doughnuts. The bubble ring shape of these sweets allows easy sharing among friends (or yourself, no judgment here).

I recently tried matcha s'mores dochi ($2.75), it has a pleasant sweetness that reminds me of classic vanilla donuts. Dochi has a touch of marshmallows and graham crackers, from the decorations attached to the bubble ring with light green matcha frosting. Soft and chewy inside (due to the use of rice noodles), this matcha dochi is the perfect introduction to matcha desserts.

Tuesday noon to 4 pm, Wednesday to Friday noon to 6 pm, Saturday to Sunday noon to 5 pm; 2224 N. 56th St., Seattle; instagram.com/hirokidesserts

Hiroki is a very quaint bakery in Wallingford. Jazz floats down the street from the blue brick walls of the small cafe, and tables with wicker chairs line the entrance in a true Parisian style. With flower baskets and outdoor chalk menus, Hiroki draws guests into the glass showcases full of cakes, cheesecakes and pastries even before they see them.

Of course, I tried the green tea tiramisu ($6.75), which is their signature matcha dessert. This tiramisu has a delicate creamy flavor, with a touch of cream cheese flavor and the earthy flavor of green tea. Its light, melt-in-the-mouth flavor makes it the perfect matcha dessert for those who may not want the flavor of green tea.

7 am to 2 pm daily; 1112 Fourth Avenue, Seattle; tracemarketseattle.com

Matcha is usually mixed with a nutty flavor, and this technique highlights its earthy character. The matcha coconut scones ($4) from TRACE Market are very balanced. Sugar and frosting soften the natural bitterness of matcha, and the whole coconut flakes add a unique texture element. This scones can be easily enjoyed with matcha latte with almond or coconut milk to complement its basic flavor.

11 am to 8 pm daily; 1007 Stewart Street, #103, Seattle; nanasgreenteaseattle.com

Think of Nana's Green Tea as the ultimate mecca for matcha lovers. Almost all types of matcha drinks (I'm talking about hot, iced, mixed, or even mixed with soda or ice cream) to all kinds of matcha mixtures, Nana's has it all.

Jessmin Lau, owner of Nana's Green Tea in Seattle, brought the Japanese franchise to the United States in 2018. Lau said that this brand is so popular in Japan, just like Starbucks is to the United States. Today, Seattle’s location is unique in more than one respect-it is the only Nana's in the United States and the only Nana's in the world where you can find matcha cream puffs.

Find my matcha cream puffs. During a recent visit to Nana's, I tried two desserts-matcha cream puffs and matcha roll cakes (both $5.75). Matcha cream puffs are an explosion of matcha flavor. The top of the meringue is sprinkled with green tea powder, highlighting the corners and gaps of the crackling biscuit. Inside the cream puffs, the crispy pastry layer creates delicate and airy pockets, which are perfect for filling with bright green matcha cream. The matcha cream has the traditional bitterness of green tea, as well as a familiar turf outline and nutty flavor. A bite of matcha cream and shortcrust pastry is balanced and satisfying. If you are a serious matcha lover, then matcha cream puffs are for you-of all the desserts I have tried, it has the strongest green tea flavor.

Matcha burrito is satisfying to look at, and even more satisfying to eat. Although it looks dense, the matcha cake is light and fluffy. The sweet cream swirl has a taste of cream cheese, with a ball of super concentrated matcha cream in the middle.

Liu decided to bring Nana to Seattle because she visited Nana in Japan. She said that before trying Nana's, she didn't even like matcha-after all, she was a coffee drinker very much. She knew that if this coffee shop centered on matcha could transform people like her, it would be a success.

In a city famous for coffee, I think Liu was right about introducing a new wave of emerald.

The views expressed in the reader's comments only represent the views of the author and do not reflect the views of the Seattle Times.